Visible index device



July 4, 1933. P Q, UNGER mamas VI S IBLE INDEX DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 1952 Lc-7 lma Patented July 4, 1333 lATES near PAUL O. TING-ER, OF GI-TZCAGQ, ELLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WIIiSON-JONES COMPANY, OF CHICAGQ'ILLINQIS, A CORPORATEOILJ OF IvZASSACHUSETTS VISIBLE INDEX DEVICE Application filed. February 27, 1932. Serial No. 595/165.

This invention relates to a visible index' device in which a plurality of record cards can be readil confined in overlapping relation and concerns itself primarily with a construction adapted for containing card holders together with means for locking and unlocking the same therein.

The invention comprises the novel structureand combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illus trates a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary interior plan view of a folder equipped with a visible index mounting involving this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line l f -ll of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the ar rows and showing parts in elevatlon.

Figure is a view simllar to Figure 2 with parts broken away and with the locking slide in its inoperative position.

Figure t is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line lVlV of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in a horizontal plane through one of the ribs illustrating the latching mechanism.

In connection with this invention, there is shown a cardboard folder comprising the cover members 1 and 2 which are connected by an accordion hinge 3. A pair of parallel cardholder retaining members 4- are secured in suitably spaced relation upon the cover member 1 by means of rivets 5 or the like. These card-holder retaining members 1, it will be noted, have lateral flange through which the rivets 5 extend and an upstanding hollow rib 6 between said flanges. These ribs 6 are suitably slotted from top to bottom as indicated at 7 and these slots 7 are arranged in proper sequence so that the slots in the different members are directly opposite each other.

Suitable card-holding bars 8 are adapted to have their opposite ends projecting into the slots 7. In the drawing, suitable record cards 9 are shown attached to the card'- holding bars 8. A slide 10 is slidably- 1nount-, ed within each rib 6 for locking the bars 8 in the ribs 6. Each slide 6 is substantially U-shaped in cross-section as can be readily seen from an inspection of Figure 4. Each slide consists of a base flange 10a, a vertical flange 10-a and an upper horizontal flange 100 that extends parallel transversely adjacent the top portion of the rib 6. It will be noted that the inner sides of the ribs 6 are indented as indicated at 11 in Figure l whereby a guideway 12 is formed between such indented portion 11 and the top portion of the rib. The upper horizontal flange 106 of each slide extends into the guideway 12 as shown in Figure 1 for properly guiding same against tilting movement. This upper flange 10c of each slide is slotted to provide spaced tongues 13 shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2. It migli-tfbe mentioned that the slots in the flange 10c which are designated as 10(Z are sufliciently large to allow the card holder bars 8 to escape therethrough when said slots are in alignment with the slots 7 in the ribs. In Figure 3 parts have been cut away showing portions of the tongues 13 in section with the slots 10(Z on each side of a tongue.

With reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that each slide 10 has a finger portion 1 1 that extends beyond one end of the rib 6 for manual manipulation. In Figure 1, the tongues 13 are shown as projecting into the slots 7 to prevent the removal of the card holder bars 8. In Figure 2, the edges of the tongues 13 are shown in elevation, and it will be not-ed that a small portion or margin thereof upon one side is still confined in the guideway 12 when the same are projected across the slot 7 l/Vhen it is desired to remove a card holder from the mounting, the slides 10 are pulled outwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 to bring the tongues 13 between the slots 7 as shown in Figure 3.

The wall 10-Z) of the slide is provided with an aperture (Figure 5) into which the bead 15 on a leaf spring 16 projects. This leaf spring is attached to the outer side of the rib. The side of the rib is provided with a slot 17 in the region of the spring to allow such spring to contact the guide. This spring yieldably retains its slide in operative or looking position. It will, however, easily yield to allow the slide to be pulled outwardly.

The device herein illustrated is adapted for many uses, among which may be mentioned a desk file for names and addresses or accounts requiring frequent reference. It will be appreciated that it may be handled and thrown about without displacing any of the cardholders which are securely locked in the ribs by the tongues 13 of the locking slide. It will further be appreciated that by shifting the slides to their inoperative position, cardholding bars may be removed or added as desired or the cards may be removed from the card holders and replaced byothers.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

'1. In a visible index device, a pair of par allel spaced members having hollow slotted ribs forming recesses for receiving the ends of card holding bars and a slide mounted in each rib with means for projecting across the slots for locking the card holding bars in said ribs.

2. In a visible card index device, a base member, a pair of spaced metal members thereon having upstanding beads, said beads being provided with slots for forming recesses, the inner wall of each bead being indented inwardly to form a guideway with the top thereof and a slide having a series of tongues mounted in each rib with the tongues engaging in said guideway.

3. In a visible index comprising a base member, a pair of members having ribs secured in parallel relation upon said base member, said ribs having slots for receiving index holders, a locking slide mounted in each rib and a yielding member for yieldingly retaining each slide in its operative position.

4. In a visible index, a base, a pair of spaced members having compartments adapted for receiving the ends of card holders, a locking slide mounted in one member, and yielding means between said slide and a portion of said member for yieldingly holding said slide to said member in a predetermined position.

5. In a visible index, a base, a pair of spaced hollow and parallel members thereon,

said members having registering slots adapt ed for receiving the ends of card holders, a U-shaped slide in each member having cutout portions to register with said slots and portions intermediate said cut-out portions for partially closing said slots, and resilient means between each slide and a portion of its hollow member for yieldingly retaining each slide in its operative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cool; County,

Illinois.

PAUL O. UNGER.

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